HWB pledges fundraising for vital children’s hospital unit

Accountants and Tax advisers HWB, have chosen The Murray Parish Trust as its charity of the year, and will support it with a series of fundraisers throughout 2018.

The Southampton-based practice, one of the region’s largest independent accountancy firms, is supporting the Trust’s drive to raise £2m for a dedicated children’s A&E department at Southampton General Hospital.

To kickstart the fundraising, HWB held a month-long charity auction with prizes donated from a range of businesses and organisations in the region, including Southampton FC and Ageas Bowl. HWB staff silently bid on the donated item, raising £800.

They also held a Halloween pumpkin competition and a Christmas jumper day to raise further funds.

The Murray Parish Trust was set up by actress Sarah Parish and her husband James Murray, who have raised thousands of pounds for Southampton General since losing their daughter Ella-Jayne, who was treated there in 2009.

The Trust is working alongside the Southampton Hospital Charity to reach the £2m target, which will be match-funded by the government. A further £800,000 is to be allocated by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust to build the £4.8m unit.

Geoff Rhodes, Managing Director at HWB, said: “We are delighted to support such a great charity this year.

“Many of us are parents, so we wanted to support a new unit that will make a real difference to hundreds of families across the region.

“The whole team at HWB is looking forward to fundraising throughout the year, and we would particularly like to thank all those businesses who donated prizes to start the campaign off.”

Sarah Parish said: “To have the support from companies such as HWB is absolutely invaluable to our cause and demonstrates how the more progressive firms such as this really do grasp the inherent value of corporate sponsorship.”